Oura Ring 5 Review: The *Hidden* Upgrades Beyond Thinner & Lighter (Worth the H Hype?)

Key Takeaways:

1. The Oura Ring 5 introduces a significantly smaller, lighter, and more discreet design (40% smaller than its predecessor), addressing previous criticisms of bulkiness and making it incredibly comfortable for 24/7 wear.
2. Aesthetics are dramatically improved with new finishes and a true-to-jewelry look, combined with enhanced durability claims and a noticeable bump in battery life (6-9 days).
3. While a compelling choice for new smart ring users, existing Oura Ring Gen3 owners will need to weigh the aesthetic and comfort upgrades against the fact that new software features will also roll out to their current devices.

When the Oura Ring 5 box first opened, the immediate impression was one of remarkable miniaturization. “Wow, that’s tiny,” was the involuntary first thought, swiftly followed by the realization that this isn’t just a new iteration, but potentially the smart ring many have patiently awaited. Having grown accustomed to the previous Oura Ring 4 Ceramic, the noticeable reduction in size and weight of the Ring 5 was genuinely surprising and instantly impactful.

Oura touts the Ring 5 as the world’s smallest smart ring, and the specifications certainly back that claim. It measures a mere 6.09 mm wide and 2.28 mm thick, a significant reduction from the Ring 4’s 7.90 mm width and 2.88 mm thickness. This translates to a ring that is approximately 40% smaller than its predecessor. The weight reduction is equally impressive; while exact weight varies by size, the Ring 5 ranges from 2 grams to 2.69 grams, starkly lighter than the Ring 4’s 3.3 grams to 5.2 grams. These changes aren’t just numbers on a spec sheet; they profoundly enhance the ring’s comfort and significantly elevate its aesthetic appeal, allowing it to blend seamlessly with existing jewelry rather than announcing itself as a piece of tech. Oura’s stated goal was for the Ring 5 to look and feel like any other ring, a mission it has, in this reviewer’s opinion, undoubtedly accomplished. The Oura Ring 5 starts at an accessible price point of $399.

Historically, discussions around Oura’s smart rings often split into two distinct camps: ardent evangelists who found the ring transformative for their health, and skeptics who dismissed it as too bulky to wear. The Oura Ring 5 fundamentally reshapes this narrative, poised to attract a much broader audience, especially those previously deterred by the perceived heft of earlier models. This strategic redesign wasn’t accidental; Oura openly acknowledged the persistent user demand for a thinner and more compact device. This move also reflects a keen awareness of the competitive landscape, where rivals like RingConn and Ultrahuman have entered the market with subscription-free smart rings that often boasted lighter designs than the Ring 4.

While the Oura Ring 4 was never overtly uncomfortable for me, the Ring 5 represents a substantial leap in wearability. With the Ring 4, there was always a subtle awareness of its presence on my finger. The latest model, however, achieves a level of discretion where I frequently forget I’m even wearing it – a significant advantage for individuals, like myself, who don’t consistently wear jewelry. This enhanced comfort extends particularly to nighttime use, which is crucial for a device designed to track sleep and various health metrics around the clock. A smart ring inherently offers superior comfort to a smartwatch for overnight wear, and the Ring 5’s refined, smaller design further minimizes its presence, making it an even less intrusive companion during sleep.

Beyond comfort, the Ring 5 also delivers on improved endurance. Battery life now spans an impressive six to nine days, an upgrade from the Ring 4’s five to eight-day range. My own experience corroborates this claim; the ring arrived with a 50% charge, topped up to 75% after a quick 30-minute charge following initial setup, and after five continuous days of wear, it still had approximately 25% battery remaining. This extended power means less frequent charging interruptions and more uninterrupted data collection.

A point of note for prospective buyers is the slightly reduced range of available sizes for the Ring 5, which comes in sizes 6 to 13, compared to the Ring 4’s broader offering of sizes 4 to 15. Oura attributes this to the inherent manufacturing challenges involved in producing smaller rings in this new, intricate form factor. The company has opted to focus on the most popular sizes, while actively monitoring demand for the discontinued options, suggesting potential future expansion if market trends dictate.

The Ring 5 is available in a sophisticated palette of six finishes: Silver, Brushed Silver, Black, Stealth, a redesigned Gold, and an updated Deep Rose. The new Gold finish, which Oura sent for review, is particularly striking. Unlike the more yellowish tinge of previous gold Oura rings, this iteration boasts a subtler, truer gold tone that beautifully mimics actual gold jewelry. The Deep Rose finish also receives an update, now presenting a more copper-like appearance. It’s important to note that the premium Gold, Stealth, and Deep Rose finishes are priced at $499, a $100 premium over the standard finishes. Oura has also highlighted improved durability, claiming the Ring 5 is more scratch-resistant than prior generations, thanks to a new finishing technique utilizing a physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process. While five days of testing isn’t enough to fully confirm long-term durability, a momentary concern about a potential scratch from a rusty swing chain proved unfounded; it was merely rust transferred to the ring, easily wiped clean, suggesting a robust surface. It will be compelling to observe how well this promise of maintaining its “out-of-the-box” premium look holds up over extended use.

Accompanying the launch of the Oura Ring 5 are new software features, including Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing, which are slated to roll out later this month. Crucially, these advanced features are not exclusive to the Ring 5; they will also be made available to Oura Ring Gen3 and later products. As these software updates are forthcoming, I cannot yet provide an assessment of their functionality or impact on the user experience.

Bottom Line:

The Oura Ring 5 represents a significant and compelling evolution in the smart ring market, primarily driven by its vastly improved comfort and aesthetics. For anyone considering their first smart ring, or for those who have previously shied away due to bulkiness, the Ring 5 is an outstanding choice that finally delivers on the promise of an unobtrusive, stylish health tracker. For current Oura Ring 4 or Gen3 owners, the decision to upgrade is more nuanced. While the physical design improvements are substantial, offering a genuinely superior wearing experience, the fact that all upcoming software enhancements will also reach their existing devices means the upgrade primarily hinges on how much they value the enhanced aesthetics and comfort over the functional improvements, which are universally applied across recent generations.